Linda Caicedo injured on Real Madrid home debut: what injury did she suffer and how long will she be out?

It started as Caicedo chaos but ended in Caicedo catastrophe. Colombian starlet Linda Caicedo had already pulled on the white shirt of Real Madrid on three occasions before Saturday’s Liga F game against Tenerife at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, a home debut which, sadly, she will want to forget.

After signing for the club on her 18th birthday (not a bad gift, is it?), she made her debut as a substitute on 4 March away to Alhama and scored her first goal on her second appearance in the Copa de la Reina at Villarreal. Last weekend, she made her first start for Las Blancas in a goalless draw away from home against city rivals Atlético Madrid and today, Saturday 18 March, she has finally played her first competitive minutes at her home ground…much to the delight of flag-waving Colombian fans in the Spanish capital, who turned her home debut into a Linda love-in.

Here’s the moment she was welcomed in.

Colombian fans out in force for Linda Caicedo

Caicedo was once again named to lead the attack by Real Madrid Femenino boss Alberto Toril and she received a huge ovation as made her way onto the field at the Alfredo Di Stefano for the very first time (in a competitive context). While Madridistas on the whole were excited to see their newest superstar in the flesh, there was a notable amount of support from her compatriots, with suggestions that up to a quarter of the fans in attendance were from Colombia. According to official data from EPA (Encuesta de Población Activa), there were over 120,000 people who were born in Colombia living in the Spanish capital in 2022.

What injury did Caicedo suffer?

However, it certainly wouldn’t be the dream debut that Caicedo and her fans were hoping for. After a fairly uneventful and goalless opening first 35 minutes, the 18-year-old received the ball and a split second later was on the receiving end of a sliding challenge which sent her sprawling. Caicedo rolled over and landed on her lower back, which appeared to be the main source of her discomfort.

The stadium fell eerily silent as the Colombian made her way over to the touchline, accompanied by the Real Madrid medical staff, who gave her the once over and initially the go-ahead to go back on. However, it wouldn’t last long as no more than a minute or so later, Caicedo sat down on the turf and signalled that she wasn’t able continue. French midfielder Naomie Feller came on as her replacement as the striker limped round the field to warm applause.

How long will Caicedo be out for? Initial signs positive

There has not yet been any official confirmation from Real Madrid as to what injury Caicedo has suffered or the extent of it, but we will keep you posted here on AS USA. The forward was seen walking around on the field at full-time, which would appear to be a sign that the injury isn’t too serious. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for good news.